Combination automobile radiator filler and ornament



Jan. 22, 1929. 1,699,889

1'. HARLOW ET AL COMBINATION AUTOMOBILE RADIATOR FILLER AND ORNAMENT Filed Aug. 2, 1927 ZVz'ZZz'am zz wi'mermann I 23 W; M

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Patented Jan. 22, 192.19,

THOMAS HARLOW nun wrntianziraiunnnannon neuron CITY, lvrrssouni.

COMBINATION AUTOMOBILE RADIATOR FILLER AND ORIiI'All/IENT,

Application filed August 2, 1927. Serial No. 210,107.

Generically this invention relates to fun nels or fillers, but more especially it is directed to the type adaptable for attachment to radiators of motor cars.

The principal object oi this invention is the provision of a combination radiator filler and ornament which may be attached to the radiator filling neck as a cap, and when in open position constitutes a tunnel or filling- Another object of this invention is the provision ol a device of this character comprising hinged elements normally constituting a seal for the air vent pipe and forming sections of the ornament but operable to open position to permit escape of air tronr said pipe and to constitute a funnel, to prevent water from spilling upon the radiator, hood, or clothes of the operator, when the radiator being filled, the operating means also adapted to automatically maintain the sections in open or closed position as desired.

With these and other objects in. view, which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the. accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures, of which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view oi a portion of automobile radiator showing our improved ornainental radiatorfillercap in operative position:

Figure'Q is a longitudinal vertical section of the device illustrated in Fig. 1 partly in elevation;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, looking towards the rear; i

Figure 4. is a similar view to Fig. 2 showing the movable sections in open g'msition to constitute a tunnel; and

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional .view taken on the line 55 of 2, looking towards the front and showing the air vent.

pipe closed.

In devices of this character heretofore in use it has generally been necessary to either sacrifice the ornamental radiator cap for some special filling means or to suffer the inconvenience of filling the radiator in the usual manner, and it wasto overcome such deficiencies and to provide an ornaments radiator cap that would at the same time device, and when closed a radiator ornament.

constitute an eficient filling device to prevent spilling or splashing of Water over" the radiator or clothes of the operator during the filling of the radiator that we designed the combination ornamental cap and filler forming the subject matter of this invention.

In the illustrated embodimentcharacterizmg this invention there is shown an automobile radiator l, filling neck or opening 2, and hood 3 of conventional design.

In order to present an ornamental and artistic appearance as well as to constitute a practical tunnel or filler, the device may comprehend any desired configuration, and while in the present instance it is fashioned to simulate the appearance of a dog 4:, it could with equal effectiveness represent a chicken, bird, orthe like. v

The body 5 of the device 4 is hollowed out to form the substantially cylindrical chamher 6, the'up per wall of the cylinder or back ofthe device 4 being formed with compleniental movable sections 7 and 8, respectively.

Hingedlyconnected to the body portion on either side in a substantially central horizontal plane, and formed along their lower edges with spaced. strap-like portions bent upon themselves to form hinge loops 9, adapted to dovetail with similarly form d loops 10 of the body 5 to receive the hinge rod 11/ Thesaid sections normally contact along their upper edges, as at 12, to form a closure for said chamber 6 and to prevent a comparatively unbroken contour of the delVelded or otherwise suitably secured to each end" of the'sections 7 and 8 at right angles thereto are semi-elliptical end plates 13, which when said sections are in open or filling position, prevent water from splashing or spilling over the ends of the device. The free ends of the plates 13 at one end of the device are apertured as at Ll to receive the lateral projection 15 of the spring arms 16, the upper ends of said arms extending through. aperture 16, and being suitably secured in the operating handle 17, which latter normally constitutes the tail of the dog.

The said device or dog 4 is formed with a depending tubular neck 18 threaded as at 19 for engagement with the usual filling neck 2 of the radiator and is eccentrically positioned with respect to the device so that the latter will not interfere with the raising and lowering of the hood An air vent e :20 extends from within the radiator 1, aterally to the front end of the chamber 6 and upwardly to a point where the upper end 'will be sealed by the section 7 when in closed position, as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, but when the section is in open position air can freely pass from said tube during fillingof the radiator, as is well understood.

In order to prevent boiling over of the radiator should it become overheated, and to otherwise seal the same, threaded plug 21,, is adapted for threaded engagement with the tubular neck 18, and is formed with an insulated handle 22, so tha'tthe same may be expeditiously removed Whenin a heated condition.

'namental cap is converted into a funneldike filling device'by simply elevating handle 17 which through the instruu'ientality oit spring arms 16 and end plates 13 opens sections? and 8 outwardly to-expanded or filling position, whereupon plug 21 may be removed and the radiator filled.

Inthis-c0n11ection it will be observed that the spring arms 16 automatically operate when in lowered position to maintain the sections 7 and 8 firmly closed and when in elevated position to similarly maintainthem in open position.

It is apparent from the above description that We have designed a unique and novel combination ornamental radiator cap and filler, easily attachable as a radiator cap, artistic in appearance, simple in construet-ion, manufacturable at a negligible cost, and ellieient for the purposes intended.

Although in practice we have found that the form of our invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and referred to in the above descriptiomas the preferredembodiment, is the most efiicient and practical; yet realizing the conditions concurrent with the adoption of our invention will necessarily vary, We desire to emphasize that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to Within the scope of the appended claims Without departing from or sacrificing any of the principles of this invention.

Having thus described ourinvention, What we desire protected by Letters Patent is as set forth in the following claims:

l An article of manufacture comprising a cylindrical body, an externally threaded nipple formed integral with the body and adapted to seat in the internally threaded opening of aradiator, the upper portion of the body being divided into segments, the segments being hinged to the free edges of the lower portion of said body, and means in connect-ion with the segmental portions to position the latter when operated in one direction to form a continuation of'thelower "portion, and in the opposite direct-ion "to extend the segments to constitute a troughlike opening.

2. An article of manufacture comprising a cylindrical bod closed at both ends, .a

segment-s'providedWith end plates and means connected tocertai'n of the endjplates whereby vertical movement downwardly of such means Wlll bring the segments into closed relation, and when erated'in the Op osite direction'will expan "the segments to form a trough-like funnel.

THOMAS HARLOW. WILLIAM ZIMMERMANN. 

